This Week in SABR: December 22, 2023

December 22, 2023/in This Week in SABR /by Jacob Pomrenke

Welcome to “This Week in SABR!” Click here to view this week’s newsletter on the web. Please note: The SABR office will be closed for the holidays on December 25-26 and January 1. The next newsletter will be sent on Friday, January 5, 2024. Here’s what we’ve been up to as of December 22, 2023:

SABR 2023: Year in Review
Students, apply for scholarships to attend 2024 SABR Analytics Conference
Member Benefit Spotlight: Subscribe to the Baseball Research Journal
Give the gift of SABR this holiday season
Apply now for a Local Grant in 2024
Last call for 2023 award nominations

SABR 2023: Year in Review

From the launch of the incredible SABR-Rucker Archive to a new organizational milestone of 7,500+ members, SABR has enjoyed a banner year in 2023. Thanks to all of our chapter and committee leaders, donors, writers, editors, volunteers, and contributors who have helped make the SABR community such a rewarding experience for so many baseball fans around the world!

This year, SABR.org has seen a record 3.1 million website visitors to enjoy new Research Resources like the Rucker Archive and the Historical Black Newspapers Collection, and develop their skills with the third course in our Analytics Certification program. We also published more than 1,500 articles online in the SABR Research Collection, including new stories from the Biography Project and Games Project, and many older articles from SABR’s archives over the past half-century.

Hundreds of virtual SABR events were held online with authors, former players, and other guest speakers, including the second season of Ballpark Figures, hosted by Shakeia Taylor, and the first SABR Scholar Session, hosted by Tyrone Brooks.

SABR members enjoyed meeting new and old friends by attending SABR 51 in Chicago, the SABR Analytics Conference in Phoenix, the Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference in Detroit, the Frederick Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Conference in Cooperstown, and the virtual Women in Baseball Conference.

New books from the SABR Digital Library included titles on Willie Mays, Yankee Stadium, Ebbets Field, Japanese baseball tours, and Negro League champions from Philadelphia. The Landmarks Committee unveiled its new interactive Baseball Graves Map and the Oral History Committee posted dozens of new interviews with significant baseball figures.

Thanks again for a terrific 2023, and we look forward to more fun for SABR in 2024!

Students, 1 week left to apply for scholarships to attend 2024 SABR Analytics Conference

Early registration is now open for the SABR Analytics Conference, which will be held in person from March 8-10, 2024, at the Beus Center for Law and Society on Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix Campus in Phoenix, Arizona.

Students and young professionals have until December 31, 2023, to apply for the Yoseloff Scholarship or the Sarah Langs Women in Baseball Analytics Scholarship and attend the 2024 SABR Analytics Conference. And don’t forget to nominate your favorite baseball research articles for the SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards by December 31 as well.

We’ll bring together the top minds in the baseball analytics community to discuss, debate, and share insightful ways to analyze and examine the great game of baseball. Register today to join us!

Visit SABR.org/analytics to learn more:

Registration: Click here to register for the 2024 SABR Analytics Conference. Early-bird registration is $395 for SABR members, $495 for non-members, and $150 for currently enrolled high school or college students. Student-only virtual registration is $50. Students should email Scott Carter with a photo of their student ID to receive the discounted registration link.
Student Registration: Students have the option of choosing virtual ($50) or in-person ($150) registration. Both include access to General Session panels and presentations on Friday, March 8 through Sunday, March 10, and a student-only virtual session on Thursday, March 7. All student registrations also include a one-year SABR membership ($25 value) and a complimentary Rapsodo certification course ($395 value). SABR membership will be fulfilled after event sign-up and access to Rapsodo course will be delivered after the conference.
Diamond Dollars Case Competition: Click here to register your team for the 2024 Diamond Dollars Case Competition. Registration is $1,750 per team, which includes admission to all SABR Analytics Conference sessions and a one-year SABR membership for each participant.
Yoseloff Scholarship: Students, apply now for a Yoseloff Scholarship to attend the 2024 SABR Analytics Conference. Deadline: December 31, 2023.
Sarah Langs Women in Baseball Analytics Scholarship: Apply now for a Sarah Langs Women in Baseball Analytics Scholarship. Deadline: December 31, 2023.

Stay tuned for more information on speakers, panelists, and presenters soon! Learn more at SABR.org/analytics.

Member Benefit Spotlight: Subscribe to the Baseball Research Journal

Beginning in 2024, all SABR members will exclusively receive the Baseball Research Journal electronically. A majority of SABR members already receive the BRJ electronically and will not be affected by this change.

For any members who are interested in a hard copy of the publication for their personal library, we are rolling out a new subscription option at a significantly discounted rate: $7 per issue for members, compared to $19.95 at retail. (International members will pay $11 per issue.)

Visit SABR.org/subscribe to receive future printed editions of the BRJ in the mail. Or click here if you’d like a tutorial on how to subscribe.

As with any change, we understand that you may have questions or concerns that you would like to share. Please feel free to reach out to any SABR staff member.

Give the gift of SABR this holiday season!

This holiday season, it’s easy to share that passion for the game with friends and family. If you’re looking for a great gift for the baseball fan in your life, how about a SABR Gift Membership? All baseball fans are welcome to join SABR.

Click here to learn more about how to sign up a family member or friend with a SABR Gift Membership.

Visit SABR.org/gift-membership to learn more.

Students, apply now for a SABR Negro Leagues Committee scholarship in 2024

SABR’s Negro Leagues Committee will award $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors in its 16th annual Thomas R. Garrett Scholarship essay contest in 2024. Students must write a 1,200-word essay answering a question related to one of the Negro League figures who are the namesakes of the scholarships.

Click here to learn more about each scholarship or to download an application. The deadline to apply is April 15, 2024.

The 2024 Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference will take place on June 6-9 at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.

Visit SABR.org/malloy for more information on the 2024 conference, including the Call for Papers and Art Contest.

Apply now for a SABR Local Grant in 2024

The SABR Local Grants program provides an opportunity for chapters, research committees, and chartered communities to apply for funding for their projects under SABR’s Four Pillars: Research, Scholarship, Preservation, and Future of the Game.

Applications are now open for a 2024 SABR Local Grant at SABR.org/local-grants. Submissions will be accepted until January 19, 2024. A Grants Review Board will review all submissions and respond with their final determination in February 2024.

Visit SABR.org/local-grants to learn more or to apply.

Save the date: SABR Day is on February 3

Please mark your calendars for Saturday, February 3, 2024, when we will hold our annual SABR Day celebration! SABR Day is a way for all baseball fans to come together, regardless of where they live, and talk about the game we all love. Regional chapters are also encouraged to plan their own SABR Day events (virtually or in person) to celebrate the start of a new baseball season.

Chapter leaders, please email Jacob Pomrenke and Peter Cottrell as you finalize your SABR Day plans so we can update our schedule of events. Visit SABR.org/sabrday for full details on all SABR Day events.

SABR Analytics Certification: Sign up now for new Level 3 course

We’re excited to announce that the newest course in the SABR Analytics Certification program, Level Three – Introduction to Baseball Programming, is now available.

Taught by award-winning baseball writer and analyst Rob Arthur, the Level Three course provides an introduction to programming using a practical approach in its application for baseball and focusing on R (with a dash of SQL) as a programming language, the goal of this online, on-demand course is to give learners a foundational understanding of the technical skills necessary for a career in data science and baseball analytics.

To sign up now, or to learn more about previous courses, visit SABR.org/analytics/certification.

Students, apply for a Spring 2024 internship with SABR

The Society for American Baseball Research is seeking remote interns to work during the Spring 2024 semester. The internship is an educational opportunity that may count toward college credit, covering 15-20 hours per week with a flexible schedule. The internship will be for a fixed period of time and is designed to provide the intern with skills and training that may be applicable to working in a nonprofit research environment or in other research-based organizations.

Please send a resume and cover letter in PDF form to jpomrenke@sabr.org by 5:00 p.m. MST Friday, January 26, 2024.

Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.

Baseball fans, tune in this season to SABRcast with Rob Neyer, a weekly podcast hosted by award-winning author and longtime SABR member Rob Neyer. Episode #245 on Monday, December 18 featured Dayn Perry, author and writer who has been covering baseball at CBS Sports since 2012. Visit SABR.org/sabrcast to listen to the full episode or subscribe to SABRcast on your favorite podcast networks.

Find new updates to the SABR Research Collection below, including the Baseball Biography Project, Games Project, and Oral History Collection.

New Oral History interview: Buddy Bell

Buddy Bell, All-Star third baseman who won five Gold Gloves and managed three teams
Recorded December 21, 2023, by John McMurray

Visit SABR.org/oralhistory to find more interviews from the SABR Oral History Collection.

6 new stories published at the SABR Games Project

September 15, 1884: White Stockings outshine Eclipse at Louisville’s ‘lit’ Southern Exposition, by Larry DeFillipo
May 10, 1955: Don Newcombe faces the minimum and one-hits the Cubs, by Steven C. Weiner
September 17, 1960: Ted Williams’ 2-run homer beats a solo shot by Jim Lemon, by Bill Nowlin
June 18, 1966: Mets, Yankees share an old Friend, by Kurt Blumenau
July 23, 1998: Pirates’ Jon Lieber wins third straight game as defending champion Marlins struggle, by Madison McEntire
May 12, 2023: Cedric Mullins christens Bird Bath, leads Orioles to victory with cycle-completing homer, by Mike Huber

Visit SABR.org/gamesproject to learn more about the SABR Games Project or to get involved.

Nichibei Yakyu: US Tours of Japan, 1960-2019 (Volume 2)
Edited by Robert K. Fitts, Bill Nowlin, and James Forr

Visit SABR.org/ebooks to download the free e-book edition or save 50% off the paperback edition of all Digital Library books.

All SABR members are encouraged to submit nominations for our annual research awards, for works published or completed in 2023. The deadline to nominate is December 31:

Seymour Medal (history/biography books)
SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards (baseball analytics research)
Larry Ritter Book Award (Deadball Era books)
Russell Gabay Award (New Jersey baseball)
SABR Baseball Research Award (outstanding research articles/projects)
McFarland-SABR Baseball Research Award (best history/biography articles)

Please note: Only ONE entry per nomination will be considered (do not submit multiple nominations for the same award). For more information on SABR Awards, click here.

Here are some SABR headlines from recent weeks that we don’t want you to miss:

Please give a warm welcome to all new SABR members who joined this week! View more Members-Only resources at members.sabr.org or click here to download the Membership Handbook. Find contact information for any SABR member in the online Membership Directory.

NAME	HOMETOWN	NAME	HOMETOWN
Gary Abbott	St. Louis, MO	Karena Mazur Israel	Elkridge, MD
Donnie Barnett	Jonesborough, TN	Jennifer Mohr	Philadelphia, PA
Tony Boston	Victoria, BC	Tom Mollen	Minneapolis, MN
Pablo Delgado	High Bridge, NJ	Colby Musselmann	Phoenix, AZ
Brian Downing	Batavia, OH	John Nogowski	Tallahassee, FL
John Ferling	Carrollton, GA	Patrick O’shea	Darien, IL
Vic Figurelli	Georgetown, TX	Tim Parks	Baltimore, MD
Anthony Garcia	Milwaukee, WI	Steve Riach	Southlake, TX
Randy Gue	Atlanta, GA	Tilly Roche Clark	San Francisco, CA
David Huthmaker	Cranberry Twp, PA	Nicholas Russo	Portland, OR
Brent Ingram	Atlanta, GA	Steve Sax	Baltimore, MD
Nicole Julien	Washington, DC	Andrew Sparkman	Kingsport, TN
Pete Kerzel	Baltimore, MD	Megan Stewart	Peoria, AZ
Jinwoo Kim	London, ENG	Zach Talbot	Baltimore, MD
James Manganiello	Baltimore, MD	Francesca Triest	Rochester, NY
John Mangini	North Charleston, SC	Daniel Zyngier	Mamaroneck, NY

Events Calendar: Find complete details of all SABR events
Video Replays: This week, we heard from Greg Lucas (Astros Legends). Click here to view more video replays of virtual SABR events.

Upcoming Virtual Meetings

January 2: Elysian Fields (NJ) Chapter meeting with Peter Mancuso (7:00 p.m. EST)
January 3: Baltimore Babe Ruth (MD) Chapter meeting with Bryan Hoch (7:00 p.m. EST)
January 8: Bob Broeg St. Louis (MO) Chapter meeting (6:00 p.m. CST)

Upcoming In-Person Meetings

January 3: Bob Broeg St, Louis Chapter fellowship meeting (St. Louis, MO)
January 6: Rogers Hornsby Chapter Winter Meeting (San Marcos, TX)

To add your SABR event to our calendar listings, please contact Jacob Pomrenke.

Ballparks: December 2023 newsletter
Black Sox Scandal: December 2023 newsletter

Sign up for SABR research committee announcements at SABR.org/research/committees.

Larry Dierker Chapter: December 18 meeting recap (Houston, TX)
Rickwood Field Chapter: December 2023 newsletter (Birmingham, AL)

Sign up for SABR chapter announcements at SABR.org/chapters.

Click here to learn more about SABR chartered communities.

Here are some recent articles published by and about SABR members:

Registration is now open for the 2024 NINE Spring Training Conference in Arizona
Tiffany Oshinsky: ‘It’s Just Magical’: The Surprising Power Of Baseball Memories (The Lead)
Nicole Watkins: Sarah Langs is ‘fearless’ in her fight for a career in baseball—and against ALS (UChicago.edu)
Lindsey Adler: The Baseball Team That Spent $1 Billion in 10 Days (Wall Street Journal)
Tyler Kepner: Yamamoto and the Japanese starters who preceded him to MLB: A look at their contracts, careers (The Athletic)
Jay Jaffe: JAWS and the 2024 Hall of Fame Ballot: Adrián Beltré (FanGraphs)
Jayson Stark: MLB rule changes for 2024 include shorter pitch clock (The Athletic)
Emily Hawks: Kerry Yo Nakagawa discusses the little known history of Japanese American baseball (International Examiner)
Grant Brisbee: Who is Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and why is he getting $325 million from the Dodgers? (The Athletic)
Dan Cichalski: Larry Doby Lane dedicated outside Hinchliffe Stadium (MLB.com)
Gary Ashwill: Checkerboard Plaid and the Brooklyn Royal Giants (Agate Type)
Eno Sarris: The good, the sweepy and the nasty: Honoring the best MLB pitches of 2023 (The Athletic)
Davy Andrews: The Time Value of Money: A Primer (Baseball Prospectus)
David Laurila: Craig Breslow Has Brought a Touch of Minnesota to Boston’s Pitching Program (FanGraphs)
Russell A. Carleton: Let’s Ban Short-Burst Relievers (Baseball Prospectus)
Michael Baumann: What, Exactly, Are the Braves Up To? (FanGraphs)
Rob Mains: Seven Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About the 2023 Season (Baseball Prospectus)
Emma Baccellieri: The Best Pitcher Reactions of the 2023 MLB Season (Sports Illustrated)
Roger Cormier: What Major League Baseball Said When There Was Nothing Left to be Said (Baseball Prospectus)
Amanda Lane Cumming: Three Days, Two Games, and a Lunchbox (NW Baseball History)
David Kronheim: 2023 MLB Attendance Season in Review (NumberTamer.com)
Jason Schwartz: The Slick-est Cameo in All-Star History? (Hobby News Daily)
Derek Bain: Retro Computer Baseball Game Review: MicroLeague Baseball II/II/IV (SABR Baseball Gaming)

Please note: Some articles may require a separate subscription to view online. SABR does not endorse, and is not responsible or liable for, any content that appears on a third-party website.

This Week in SABR is compiled by Jacob Pomrenke. If you would like us to include an upcoming event, article, or any other information in “This Week in SABR,” e-mail jpomrenke@sabr.org. To find past editions of TWIS, click here.

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Originally published: December 22, 2023. Last Updated: December 22, 2023.

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